Ceres
February 2009 :
Note: This article may contain outdated information
This article was published in the February 2009 issue of The Skyscraper and likely contains some information that was pertinent only for that month. It is being provided here for historical reference only.
What makes amateur astronomy such a wonderful hobby is the diversity of activities it offers. We can make telescopes, dabble in astrophotography, or simply go outside with binoculars and notch a few Messier objects. One of my favorite astronomical pastimes is observing asteroids. There are plenty to see - I’ve glimpsed over a hundred with an ordinary 3-inch reflecting telescope.
As the name implies, an asteroid is starlike in appearance, giving it a low score on the “wow” scale. In fact, you can’t be 100% sure you actually spotted an asteroid until you return outside an evening or two later to verify that the suspected object moved relative to the background stars. If it has, you’ve notched another asteroid. It’s the astronomical equivalent of rock collecting.
The largest of these cosmic rocks is Ceres. Approximately the size of Texas, Ceres was the first asteroid discovered, having fallen to the Italian astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi on January 1, 1801. Originally considered to be a planet, Ceres was downgraded to minor planet status when more of these tiny worlds were discovered in the gap separating Mars and Jupiter. In the summer of 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) formally drafted a definition of planet. Ceres was reclassified as a “dwarf planet.”
During February, Ceres will be cruising through Leo, reaching 7th magnitude around the time of opposition on the 25th. You should have little trouble spotting it as long as you use good binoculars and the finder chart on this page. Don’t be disappointed should you fail to see anything more substantial than a tiny stellar speck. Even when scrutinized with the Hubble Space Telescope or large earthbound telescopes enhanced with adaptive optics, Ceres reveals precious little surface detail.
That situation is about to change. On September 27, 2007 NASA launched the Dawn Mission. It will reach the asteroid Vesta two years from now and rendezvous with Ceres in 2015. Astronomers will at last have an in-depth look at these little worlds. Until then, binoculars or telescopes are your only ticket to asteroid adventures. Whatever you call it - asteroid, minor planet, or dwarf planet - Ceres is a worthwhile first specimen for your cosmic rock collection.
